Link applying and removing device



1969 J. A. MADRE 3,462,944

LINK APPLYING AND REMOVING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed May 2. 1967INVENTOR 7 v JAMES A. MADRE BY I ATTORNEY 5.

Aug. 26, 1969 J. A. MADRE 3,462,944

LINK APPLYING AND REMOVING DEVICE Filed May 2, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4FIG. 3

I BI 36 N L 22 1s no. 4 1O i j f z i 72 68 FIG. 6

INVENTOR JAMES A. MADRE BY QWWLL ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,462,944 LINK APPLYING AND REMOVING DEVlCE JamesA. Madre, Rte. 4, Box 452, Elizabeth City, N.C. 27909 Filed May 2, 1967,Ser. No. 635,522 Int. Cl. B211 9/06, /00

US. Cl. 59-7 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for theremoval or application of links from chains, the device having a holdingportion engageable with a link and a force applying portion pivoted tothe holding portion and operative to apply force to a next adjacent linkfor placement or removal thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This inventionpertains to chain assembly and disassembly apparatus in the nature ofpliers or similarly arranged devices wherein the elements are pivotallyarranged with respect to one another.

Description of the prior art SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the handling ofchains of certain types, it is necessary to the correct assembly and/ordisassembly of the chain that the links thereof be moved relative to oneanother in a specific manner. Where the chain is of a flat link variety,the individual links normally comprise link frame sections with openingstherein, and hinge sleeve portions on the opposite sides of theopenings. These hinge sleeve portions are successively inter-engagedwith one another, and the chains are often formed in endlessarrangements in which they function as drive units between opposingsprocket wheels or in other, similar manners. The hinge elements arefrictionally engaged with one another and it is often necessary to applya substantial force in order to disengage the chain elements forreplacement and also to connect new elements. The present inventionprovides means for the application of substantial force to the chainover and above that available with conventional pliers and the like.

A related object of the present invention is to supply a chain linkplier wherein the force-applying portion is so arranged as to provide adirect linear movement of 3,462,944 Patented Aug. 26, 1969 ice the linkswith respect to one another while, at the same time, supplying a maximummechanical advantage in the application of force to the links.

Another and related advantage of the present construction resides in theparticular formation of the holding section of the device to engage alink in such manner as to permit the safe application of maximum forcethereto with minimum danger to the user.

The invention comprehends a chain link handling device comprising aholding section engaging one of the links of the chain and a leveragesection to apply or remove a next adjacent link, the device furtherincluding a support means for the holding assembly.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentto those skilled in the art from a consideration of the followingspecification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a perspective view,partially foreshortened, showing a chain assembly and disassembly deviceconstructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a partial perspective view of the device seen from anopposite side;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view;

FIGURE 5 is a front elevational View;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the section line 5-5of FIGURE 4, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view showing another func tional position ofthe device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawing ingreater detail, the chain assembly and disassembly device hereof isgenerally designated therein by reference numeral 10. The device 10 isuseful in either the placement or the removal of links 12 from a chain.The specific form of the links is subject to some variance. A typicallink of the type with which the invention is of maximum utility is bestseen in FIG- URE 1 and includes a frame portion having upper and lowersides 16 and 18. The frame further includes an inner hinge element 20 atone of its ends and an enlarged outer hinge element 22 at its oppositeend. The side members and hinge elements define an opening 24 ofsubstantially rectangular form, and the frame may further include outersleeve sections 26 if desired. In an assembled chain (FIGURE 4) theinner sleeves 20 are engaged within the outer sleeves 22 of thesucceeding links, the engagement being basically frictional. In thelatter figure it will also be observed that placement or removalrequires a specific inclination of the link to be applied or removedwith respect to the succeeding link. The outer sections 26 are spaced ina vertical plane slightly offset from the sleeves as appears more fullybelow.

The device 10 has two main components. The first of these is a holdingarm assembly 28 which includes a body section 30 an an extended handlesection 32. The body section 30 has an outer end portion 34 having aforward edge 36 and shaped at said forward edge in such manner as to beengageable within the opening 24 of one of the links in the mannerindicated in FIGURES l, 4 and 5. With the link so engaged, the hingesections 20 and 22 thereof are laterally arranged with respect to theportion 34.

The outer end portion 34 of the body section includes a substantiallyflat upper side 38, and a substantially cylindrical stop lug 40 projectsupwardly from the upper side at a location spaced a selected distanceinwardly from the end edge 36 but in substantially flush relation to theinner side 41 of the end portion 34. The stop lug 40 is preferably ofheavy stock and has a flat outer side 42 serving a function described inmore detail below.

A support means for the device is provided and comprises an invertedT-bar 44 which includes a stem 46 secured, as by welds 48, to the bodysection 30, and a cross bar 50 secured thereto. As best shown in FIG-URE 3, the T-bar 44 projects from the body section 30 in a directionopposite to the direction of extension of the stop lug 40.

At a location substantially vertically aligned with the T-bar support44, the body section 30 has a transverse opening therein through which across bolt or axle 52 is extended. The axle carries lock nuts 54 at itsouter ends and may have optional intermediate spacers 56.

A second major component of the invention comprises a lever arm 58 whichincludes a work contact section 60 having an angular, distal portion 62fixed to a handle 64 having a rebent outer section 66. The contactsection 60 has an opening therein through which the axle 52 is extendedas best shown in FIGURES 4 and 6, whereby the lever arm is pivotallyconnected to the holding arm.

The contact section further includes a proximal end portion 68 whichterminates in an end edge 70. A curved outer wall 72 extends from theedge 70 and is angularly related thereto in such manner as to besubstantially parallel to the end portion 34 of the body section of theholding arm when the elements are connected to an assembled chain. Thewall includes an outer face 75 extended to a distance such that it isclosely spaced from the side 41 when the elements are aligned as shownin FIGURE 4. The wall 72 is of a height greater than that of the endportion 68 and includes an inwardly and rearwardly inclined interioredge 74. As best shown in FIGURE 3, the lower side portion 18 of a linkis adapted to frictionally engage this interior edge when the top 76 ofthe wall is engaged against one of the hinge elements 22, the lower side18 of the link being normally spaced clear of the arm to avoid damage tothe link upon the application of force to the lever arm.

In operation, assuming first that a link 12 is to be removed from anadjacent link 12a as shown in FIG- URE 1, the link 12a is first engagedwith the end 34 of the holding arm section 30. The end 34 extendsthrough the opening 24 of the link 12a with the upper side 16 thereofbearing against the lug 40. The lever arm 58 is then pivoted to aposition wherein the link 12 is engaged by the work contact section 60with the link being engaged by the inclined interior edge 74 whereby theinclination of the link 12 with respect to the link 12a is establishedat such a position as to locate the links for assembly or disassembly,the hinge elements passing between the sections 26 at the selected anglementioned above. This positions the top 76 of the curved wall againstthe hinge section 22. Downward force applied to the handle section 66thus exerts an upward force against this sleeve disengaging the link 12from the link 12a.

In FIGURE 7, an opposite mode of operation is shown wherein the link isbeing applied to the chain. Here, the device is inverted, employing theedge 42 of the stop lug 40 as a support base. Again, a downward forceapplied to the handle 32 moves the elements into engagement with oneanother.

Having described and illustrated an embodiment of this invention in somedetail, it will be understood that this description and illustrationhave been offered only by way of example, and that the invention is tobe limited in scope only by the appended claims,

I claim:

1. A link assembly and disassembly device comprismg:

a holding arm assembly;

the holding arm assembly including link engagement means and supportmeans;

a lever arm pivotally related to the holding arm assembly; and

the lever arm having a contact section adapted to hold a link atselected inclination to the link engagement means of the holding armassembly, the support means comprising an inverted T-bar.

2. A link handling device for use in the connection and removal of linksfrom chains, the chain being of the type composed of a plurality ofinterconnected links, each link having a frame with an opening andopposite ends, an inner hinge element at one end and an enlarged outerhinge element at the other end, the link handling device comprising:

(I) A holding arm assembly comprising a body section and an extendedhandle section;

the body section having an outer end portion shaped to engage within theopening of the link with the hinge elements thereof laterally arranged;the outer end portion having an upper side; a stop lug projecting fromsaid upper side at a selected location; an inverted T-bar comprising asupport, including a stern secured to the body section and extending ina direction opposite to the lug and a cross bar; and (II) a lever armcomprising a work contact section and an extended handle portion, thecontact section being connected to the body section on a pivot axleextending therethrough, the pivot axle being aligned with said invertedT-bar;

the contact section having a proximal end portion with a curved outerwall; the outer wall having an inclined interior edge and being of aheight greater than that of the end portion and of a reduced thickness;and the interior edge engaging a link frame whereby with one linkengaged on said outer end of said body section and against the stop lug,the next adjacent link is pressed by the lever arm to force theengagement of its enlarged outer hinge element over the inner hingeelement of said one link. 3. A device for assembling and disassemblingthe links of a chain, each link being of the type having an aperturedframe provided with opposite end portions for interdigitation withadjacent links, comprising in combination,

a holding arm and a lever arm, and means pivotally connecting said armsfor relative scissoring motion,

said holding arm having an end portion dimensioned to project throughthe aperture of a link and positively locate said link in a planetransverse thereto,

said lever arm having an end portion lying to one side of said endportion of the holding arm and presenting a tip and a base engageablerespectively with an end and an immediate portion of a link adjacentthat link held by said holding arm to positively locate it in a planeangulated with respect to said transverse plane.

4. The device according to claim 3 wherein said end portion of saidlever arm extends inwardly from said base to said tip toward said endportion of said holding arm.

5. The device as defined in claim 4 including stop means on said holdingarm adjacent the terminus of said end portion thereof, thereby toaxially locate a link thereon.

6. The device as defined in claim 5 including an inverted T-bar fixed tosaid holding arm adjacent the pivotal connection between said arms.

7. The device as defined in claim 3 including stop means on said holdingarm adjacent the terminus of said end portion thereof, thereby toaxially locate a link thereon.

8. The device as defined in claim 7 including an inverted T-bar fixed tosaid holding arm adjacent the pivotal connection between said arms.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,785,946 12/1930 Fox 59-71,812,747 6/1931 Jorgensen 597 5 2,710,520 6/1955 Selzler 59-7 2,711,6286/1955 Glanz 59-7 2,818,701 1/1958 Erkkila 59 7 CHARLES W. LANHAM,Primary Examiner GENE P. CROSBY, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 59-11

